Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sanford, NC

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $2,617 in Sanford, NC, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

65

Cost of Living Index in Ubud, Bali
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Ubud, Bali Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Sanford, NC
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Sanford, NC Living Index

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Ubud, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

$1,349

/mo nomad

Sanford, NC

🇺🇸 United States

$2,617

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Sanford, NC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Sanford, NC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,617 in Sanford, NC.

Ubud, Bali $1,349
Sanford, NC $2,617

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,863 in Sanford, NC.

Ubud, Bali $2,305
Sanford, NC $3,863

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,108 in Sanford, NC.

Ubud, Bali $3,261
Sanford, NC $5,108

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 48% less than in Sanford, NC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 60.3K

$11.80 $11.80

-71.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.64 Rp 646.5K

$78.7 $78.7

-54.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 Rp 100.4K

$10.10 $10.10

-45.25%

Cappuccino

$2.72 Rp 49.3K

$5.47 $5.47

-50.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 Rp 30.9K

$2.17 $2.17

-21.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.8K

$2.02 $2.02

-62.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 Rp 48.1K

$5.07 $5.07

-47.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 79.5K

$5.84 $5.84

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 Rp 27.0K

$1.06 $1.06

40.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 Rp 41.3K

$3.39 $3.39

-32.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 21.6K

$9.39 $9.39

-87.33%

Eggs

$2.04 Rp 36.9K

$5.52 $5.52

-63.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 Rp 321.1K

$18.41 $18.41

-3.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 Rp 71.9K

$13.72 $13.72

-71.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.19 Rp 221.1K

$26.86 $26.86

-54.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 Rp 66.3K

$6.32 $6.32

-42.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 Rp 27.5K

$1.29 $1.29

17.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 40.4K

$6.77 $6.77

-67.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.8K

$7.47 $7.47

-73.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.5K

$4.66 $4.66

-60.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 44.0K

$6.26 $6.26

-61.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 18.0K

$1.58 $1.58

-37.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 Rp 9,313

$3.47 $3.47

-85.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 40.3K

$7.52 $7.52

-70.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.24 Rp 403.4K

$14.89 $14.89

49.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 Rp 41.0K

$1.63 $1.63

38.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 Rp 53.9K

$4.60 $4.60

-35.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,553

$2.03 $2.03

-87.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.82 Rp 141.9K

$56.8 $56.8

-86.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,972

$7.18 $7.18

-93.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,801

$2.28 $2.28

-81.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 Rp 98.1K

$15.23 $15.23

-64.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 15.0K

$0.91 $0.91

-9.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.8K Rp 432.4M

$29.4K $29.4K

-18.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.7K Rp 575.9M

$26.1K $26.1K

21.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.1 Rp 1.4M

$172 $172

-54.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.45 Rp 116.9K

$44.63 $44.63

-85.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.58 Rp 337.0K

$61.8 $61.8

-69.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.48 Rp 897.5K

$41.88 $41.88

18.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.65 Rp 320.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.27 Rp 77.5K

$12.08 $12.08

-64.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$491 Rp 8.9M

$1,318 $1,318

-62.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,674 Rp 102.9M

$9,988 $9,988

-43.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.64 Rp 809.7K

$39.60 $39.60

12.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.95 Rp 634.0K

$30.81 $30.81

13.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$85.9 $85.9

-6.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.4 Rp 1.4M

$93.7 $93.7

-15.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,125 Rp 20.4M

$1,585 $1,585

-29.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 Rp 12.2M

$1,299 $1,299

-48.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,565 Rp 64.7M

$2,497 $2,497

42.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,723 Rp 31.3M

$2,117 $2,117

-18.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,732 Rp 49.5M

$1,922 $1,922

42.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,284 Rp 41.4M

$1,966 $1,966

16.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$3,444 $3,444

-95.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.68

106.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sanford, NC: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Ubud, Bali

$672 49.8%

Sanford, NC

$1.3K 49.6% 93.4% $627

Groceries & Markets

Ubud, Bali

$288 21.4%

Sanford, NC

$534 20.4% 85.1% $245

Eating Out

Ubud, Bali

$108 8%

Sanford, NC

$244 9.3% 127% $136

Clothing & Footwear

Ubud, Bali

$108 8%

Sanford, NC

$112 4.3% 4.6% $5

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ubud, Bali

$104 7.7%

Sanford, NC

$279 10.7% 168% $175

Sport & Entertainment

Ubud, Bali

$58 4.3%

Sanford, NC

$66 2.5% 13.8% $8

Getting Around

Ubud, Bali

$11 0.9%

Sanford, NC

$84 3.2% 631% $72

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $1,585 in Sanford, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sanford, NC pays about 21 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $79 in Sanford, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $534 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali

🇺🇸 Sanford, NC

🕒 Local time

17:07 5:07 PM

04:07 4:07 AM

13 h behind Ubud, Bali

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

74,800

30,261

💱 Currency

Indonesian Rupiah IDR Rp

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD

100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇩 Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,241 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

USD to IDR in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Ubud, Bali Sanford, NC 16,680 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Ubud, Bali
Sanford, NC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ubud, Bali vs Sanford, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali is about 48% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 95% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,585 in Sanford, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,617 in Sanford, NC – Ubud, Bali is about 48% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 86% less than in Sanford, NC. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Sanford, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.